Circuit-controlling device



Sept. 14 1926, 1,599,764

E. HELLER CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Nov. 20, 1922 INVENTOR.

RM 8. Mme/v ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT n. HELLER, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, assrenon TO THE cuTLEn-HAM- MER MFG. 00., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

CIRCUIT-CON TBOLLIN G DEVICE.

This invention relates to circuit controlling devices and is particularly applicable to enclosed switches of the safety type.

The invention has among its objects to provide a switch of. the enclosed type having improved safety means associated therewith to insure opening of the switch prior to opening of the casing cover and to also. insure against closure of the switch until after closure of the casing cover.

Another object is to provide a safety switch of the aforesaid character having improved operatin means which is of simple, rugged an compact construction.-

Another object is to provide a switch of the aforesaid character wherein the switch operating means. is associated with the casing cover in a manner whereby the same serves to positively hold the casing cover in its open position.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear.

The accompan ing drawing illustrates an embodiment o the invention which will now be described, it being understood that the embodiment illustrated is susceptible of modification without departing from the scope of the a pended claims.

In the drawn 1 Figure 1 is :1. nt elevational view of a safety switch embodying the invention, the casing cover being shown in section;

Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views each taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 illustrating the switch in its closed and open positions; and

Fig. 4 is -a similar sectional view of the switch with the cover in openposition.

Referring to the drawing the same illustrates an "insulating base 1 having a double ole knife switch 2 mounted on the front ace thereof, said base being also provided with fuse sockets arranged immediately below the poles of said knife switch for receiving fuse plugs 3 and 4. Switch 2 is of a conventional type, the blades thereof being pivoted at their lower ends and being connected at their upper ends by an insulating cross member 5. The left hand blade of switch 2 is adapted to establish circuit from a terminal 6 adjacent the upper edge of the base 1 through fuse plug 3 to a terminal 7 located adjacent the lower edge of said base while the right hand blade thereof is adapted to establish circuit from a termmal 8 adjacent the upper edge of said base through fuse plug 4 to a terminal 9 adjacent the lower edge of said base. Base 1 is secured to the rear wall of a. box-shaped enclosing casing 10 byscrews 11 and said casing is provided with a flanged cover 12 which is hinged thereto by a pivot pin 13..

bracket 22 fixed to the inner face 0 casing cover 12 and, said rod projectsoutwardly through an opening in the side flange of.

said casing cover and is bent upwardly to provide a crank portion 23, which has an operating knob 24 secured to the upper end thereof. For a purpose hereinafter set forth the pivot pin 16 is connected by a helical spring 25 to rod 20 and the lower end of link 14 is provided with a lateral projection 26 adapted to engage the side face of link 15 upon setting of the toggle. From the foregoing it is apparent that with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, spring 25 serves to bias switch 2 outwardly, such outward movement bein 3 limited by engagement ofthe link 14 wit the mner face of easing cover 12. However, upon rotation of the crank portion 22 towards the rear of casing 10 links 14 and 15 are moved into alignment to eflect closure of the switch. Stop26 is arranged to permit movement of said links slightly beyond their aligned position to thereby pre-. vent opening of the switch under the action 25. However, upon forwardroof sprin tation o the operatinghandle to a degree sufficient to move links 14 and 15 out of alignment firing 25 will tend to open switch 2 wi a snap action.

To insure against opening of the casing cover while switch 2 is incloscd position and .to also insure against closure of the switch until after closure of said cover the operating member 20 has fixed thereto a projecting arm 27 having a slot 28 the under side thereof for receiving a pin 29 fixed to the left hand wall of casing 10. As shown ,in Fig. 2 the angular position of arm 27 with respect to rod 20 is such that when the toggle mechanism is set slot 28 receives pin 29 to prevent opening of casing cover 12. However, as s own in Fig. 3 upon openin of the switch, arm 27 1s moved out 0 locking engagement with pm 29 to permit opening of casing cover 12.

Referring now to Fig. 4 it will be observed that when cover 12 is swung outwardly to a given position to permit access to the interior of the casin 10 links 14 and 15 and the switch bla es 2 will be moved into substantial alignment to positively hold said cover against closing movement. With the parts positioned as shown in Fig. 4 closure of the cover can be readily effected after operation of the operating rod 20 in a direction to move links 14 and 15 out of alignment. It should be noted that if the toggle links 14 and 15 are set during closing movement of cover 12 the left hand end of arm 27 will abut pin 29 to prevent inward movement of said cover to a position wherein the switch will be closed.

Cover 12 is provided with an operating knob 30 on the lower flange thereof and the same is also provided with means for releasably restraining the same in closed position such means including inwardly struck portions 31 on the side flanges of said cover and co-operating recesses 32 in the side walls of the casing 10. Casing 10 can be designed in numerous ways and in the embodiment illustrated the rear wall thereof is provided with conductor openings 33 and 34 adjacent terminals 7 and 8 while the bottom wall thereof is provided with an opening 35 for receiving a conduit fitting 36.

I claim: 1. In a circuit controlling device, in combination, an enclosing casingcomprising a body portion and a cover pivotally secured thereto, a unitary switch device mounted in said body portion, a switch operating mem ber carried by said cover and movable independently of the latter, and a permanent operating connection between said member and said device.

2. In a circuit controlling device, in combination, an enclosing casing comprising a body portion and a cover pivotally secured thereto, a unitary switch device mounted in said body portion, a switch operating member carried by said cover, and a toggle connecting said operating member to said device.

3. In a circuit controlling device, in combination, an enclosing casing comprising a body portion and a cover pirotally secured thereto. -.:1i'*arv switch device mounted in said boi a. aid device inciuding an insulating base having cooperatin stationary and movable contacts mounts thereon, an oscillatable operatin member mounted on said cover, ,a togg e connecting said operatin member to the movable contacts of said evice and a spring associated with said toggle to provide-for openin of the movable contacts of said device wit a snap action.

4. In a circuit controller, in combination, an enclosing casing comprising a body portion and a cover pivotally secured thereto, a unitary switch device mounted in said body. rtion, said. device including an insulating base having cooperating stationary and movable contacts mounted thereon, an oscillatable operating member mounted on said cover, an operating connection betweemsaid member and the movable contacts of'said device and means associated with said operating member for locking said cover in closed position u n closure of the movable contacts of said ggvice, said means including a locking part fixed to said body portion and a cooperating part fixed to said operating portion.

5. The combination with a switch including a movable contact element of an enclosing casing therefor includin a. pivoted cover an oscillatable operating member mounted on said cover a toggle operating connection between said 0 rating member and the movable element 0 said'switch, said toggle and the movable element of said switch being adapted to co-operate upon opening of said cover to positively hold the latter in open position.

6. In combination a knife switch an insulating supporting base therefor fuses mounted on said base, a box-shaped enclosing casing for said parts a coverhinged to said casing an oscillatable operating member mounted on said cover and a tog is connection between said operating mem r and the movable element of said knife switch to effect opening and closure of said knife switch upon movement of said operating member in opposite directions.

v7. In combination a knife switch an insulating supporting base therefor fuses mounted on said base, a box-shaped enclosing casing for said parts a cover hinged to said casing an oscillatable operating member mounted on said cover and a toggle connection between said 0 erating member and the movable element of said knife switch to effect opening and closure of said knife switch upon movement of said operating member in opposite directions and means associated with said operating member for locking said cover in closed position upon closure of said knife switch.

8. The combination with a knife switch III of an enclosing casing therefor a cover n operating member mounted on said cover a toggle connecting said operating member and the movable element of said knife switch to effect opening and closing of said knife switch upon movement of said operating member in opposite directions and a spring connection between the movable vele- 

